Chapter Thirty-Two

Theo POV

I know it's 6 am, but I couldn't sleep after Damon and his friends left my house. Cerebrus and I conflicted the whole night over whether or not we should tell Elle about their unexpected arrival on my doorstep. Eventually, Cerebrus won, so I walked up the steps to Elle's hallway at 6 in the morning to witness her coming down the opposite steps on the other side of the hallway. Her hair is chaotic, and she is wearing clothes that aren't hers, an indistinguishable fragrance mixed with hers. The sandalwood and eucalyptus of the young Alpha cling to Elle like a visible claim to any males around. I can't help but smirk until I notice the tears in her eyes, which causes Cerebrus to roar to life, wanting vindication. He didn't care that she was with Damon, we half expected it to happen sooner or later, but we won't tolerate him hurting her.

"Elle," I say, startling her as she hurriedly tries to wipe away the tears falling freely down her face. "Are you okay?"

"Theo," she says t